Gauge for sheet metal punching machines



Sept. 29, 1931. G. R. WALTS GAUGE FOR SHEET ME TAL PUNCHING MACHINES Filed Nov. 5. 1928 3 Sheets-Sheet l \x u w Eu mm wily m .w A

amm Ray A alzs wmssw$ ATTORNEY Sept. 29, 1931. e. R. WALTS 1,825,563

GAUGE FOR SHEET METAL PUNCHING MACHINES Filed Nov. 3, 1928 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 WITNESSWV bm ymw ATTORNEY Sept. 29, 1931. a. R. WALTS GAUGE FOR SHEET METAL PUNCHING MACHINES 5. 1928 3 Sheets-Shoat 3 Filed Nov.

, INVENTOR ATTORNEY 0 av ,g:

WITNESS:

Patented Sept. 29, 1931 arent Yorrrca GORDON RAY TVALTS, OF NEW ALBANY, INDIANA GAU E r03 METAL r'unenine MACHINES Application filed November s, 1928. Serial at, 317,018.

The object of this invention is to provide means for use in connection wi th a punching machinerof standard type, whereby the sheet metal may be accurately positioned and the holes punched therein without the necessity of employing one man for marking the material and another iorattending to the punching operation, the work being readily handled by one individual.

A further object is to provide means whereby a larger number of sheets may be punched in a given time, then under ordinary circumstances, thereby further reducing the cost of the Work.

A further object is to eiiect these results by use of a plurality of gauging devices of particular character to be carried by a supporting structure mounted. laterally of the table of the punching machine, the gauges being approximately in the horizontal plane of the lower die member.

Vith the foregoingand other objects in view, the invention consists in the novel con struction and arrangement of elements described, illustrated and claimed, it being understood that modifications may be made within the scope of the claims without departing from the spirit of the invention.

In the drawings forming part of this application:.

Figure 1 is a view of the machine with the gauges in position, the view being in front elevation.

Figure 2 is a plan view showing the table of the punching machine in dotted lines, and showing the gauge mounting elements on opposite sides of the table.

Figure 3 shows the structure of Figure 2 in longitudinal section, being on line 33 of Figure 2.

Figure 4 is a vertical transverse section on the line 44 of Figure 3.

Figure 5 is a vertical transverse section on line 55 of Figure 3.

Figure 6 is a view in end elevation, showing especially the supporting structure, and showing one of the slotted plates by which the gauge mounting means of Figure 1 are connected with the table of the punching machine.

Figure 7 is a fragmentary view, constituting a section on line 77 of Figure 6.

Figure 8 is a view on line 8-8 of Figure 1, this view showing the mannerof resiliently mounting one of the gauge pins in a horizontally adjustable gauge block. Y

The table of the punching machine is designated 10, and the lower die member is shown at 11, the upper die member being designated 12. The table is supported on suitable means including legs 13, and the gauging devices are to be supported on table 10, in'the relative'position shown in Figure 1, reference being made to the complete structures A and B on opposite sides of the table 10.

These devices A and are connected by means of slotted angle plates or brackets, the vertically extending flanges 15 of which have slots 16 to be connected by bolts 17 passing into the sides of the table 10.

The gauge pins of structure B are designated'21, 22 and 23, and these are mounted in gauge blocks, one of which is shown in Figure 8 in vertical section, and is there designated 25, This element 25 has a vertical bore 26 therein receivin a coil spring 27 bearing upon 'theheador enlarged portion 27' of the gauge pin, such as element 23. Transverse bolts 28 enter the gauge blocks 25 from o a site sides, passing thru plates 28 and alongitudinal space between the middle longitudinally extending bar 29 and the upper angle bar 30, A lower angle bar 31 is spaced from the middle bar 29, and a structure'rectangular in cross section and serving to mount a plu 7 rality of gauge blocks is thereby produced.

The lower bolts 33 are positioned on opposite sides of gauge block 25, and pass thru collars 34 in order that the heads of these bolts 33 may be spaced outwardly from the heads of bolts 28, facilitating the manipulation of the boltsby a wrench or key.

Each structure A and B is supported bya plurality of leg members of the type shown in Figure 6, and further shown in other views, the legs comprising downwardly diverging members 10 and 4:1 eaehsecured by means of a set screw such as 12 within a tubular extension or foot portion 43, by means of which adjustment is obtained. These leg members each have an upper flattened portion 44 adapted for reception within the leg engaging devices of hook like form and shown in Figure 1 at 45, 46, 47 and L8.

The gauge pin 21 at the left end portion of structure B is shown in detail in Figure 5 and a lateral angle or hook like extension 49 is carried by the pin 21, and is adapted to project thru slot 50, beyond the end wall 51 of struetive B, whereby gauging means may be positioned to the left of this end wall, in Figure 1 when necessary, and may also be positioned directly in vertical alignment with the end wall,,if required.

This extension 49 is detachable, when plate 53 is detached by removing screw 54, leaving the gauging device 21 for use as in the ease of the elements 22 and 23, when said element 21 is not needed.

A device 55 constitutes an extension for the structure A, and serves a purpose similar to that indicated in connection with element 1 9. The shank portion 56 is necessarily longer, and is mounted as shown in Figure 3, at the left, in block 57, being retained by set screw 58. Other blocks 60 and 61 are mounted in the structure A, and are slidable in much the same manner as in the case of the gauge blocks in structure B. All of these devices are slidable longitudinally, the bolts such as those entering laterally in Figure 8 being adjustable between the longitudinal bars of said structures A and B. Bores 26 are closed by plates 26 holding springs 27 in position.

The material to be punched is placed on structure B and the die 12 is brought down on the point where a hole is to be punched adjacent to the left end or edge of the work. The blocks carrying pins 21, 22, 23 are then spaced and locked in position. in accordance with a marked piece of materialand the distance between die 12 and the respective pins (as the material is moved to the left) shows the distance between the holes to be marked while the material rests on the gauging elements, and then punched. Arm 49 is only required when the distance between die 12 and the first pin 21 is greater than the desired distance between the holes. Arm 56 and hook portion 57 provide further variation in the space between die 12 and the upstanding members already referred to, and element 56 is likewise detachable when not needed. Gauging elements 60. 61, 57 permit of similar use of the structure A.

What I claim is 1. In a gauging device for a punching machine, a structure adapted to be connected with the side of the machine and to extend horizontally thereupon, said structure comprising a plurality of longitudinal elements spaced apart, gauge blocks slidable between the longitudinal elements, resiliently mounted pins carried by the blocks and adapted to space the work at predetermined distances with reference to the path of the punch, said structure including a slotted end member, and a detachable hook-like gauge element connected with one of the blocks, adapted to project thru the slot, and constituting a stop against which the work abuts when a hole is to be punched near the edge of said work.

2. In a gauging device for a punching ma chine, structures adapted to connect with each side of the machine and to project laterally therefrom, longitudinally slidable blocks carried by each structure, a gauging device carried by one of the blocks and movable horizontally beyond the end of one of said structures, and a gauging device extending thru the adjacent end of the other structure, mounted in one of the blocks, and adjustable longitudinally toward and away from the gauging device first named and across the path of the punch.

In testimony whereof I aflix my signature.

GORDON RAY WALTS. 

